Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Oct 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyThe impact of watching cartoons for distraction during painful procedures in the emergency department.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the viewing of cartoons in the acute care setting reduces the perception of pain by pediatric patients. ⋯ The finding that cartoon viewing was effective does illustrate 1 more pain relief tool for use in the ED when pediatric patients present. It is useful because of the fact that it does not interfere with assessment of patients' presenting or underlying problems. The need for more ways in which to address pediatric pain persists.
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Pediatric emergency care · Oct 2012
Comparative StudyUse of computed tomography in the emergency department for the diagnosis of pediatric peritonsillar abscess.
The objective of this study was to review our pediatric emergency department's (ED's) utilization of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) and treatment outcomes. ⋯ Computed tomography is commonly utilized in the ED for the evaluation of PTA and is ordered more often in younger children.
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Pediatric emergency care · Oct 2012
Case ReportsA 15-year-old female with amenorrhea, abdominal distention, and elevated human chorionic gonadotropin: pregnancy, right? Not so fast….
Nongestational choriocarcinoma, a rare ovarian tumor, may present in young women with amenorrhea, abdominal distention, and elevated urine human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), all of which may be mistaken for pregnancy. A 15-year-old Hispanic female, who reported no sexual activity, presented with 6 months of amenorrhea, abdominal pain, and progressive abdominal distension. Initially, suspicion of pregnancy was considered. ⋯ This rare tumor is more common in the pediatric adolescent population than in adults. Surgical resection and chemotherapy often result in a positive prognosis. In female adolescent patients presenting with elevated hCG level, amenorrhea, and abdominal distention, choriocarcinoma should be considered, especially in those with no history of sexual activity or before menarche.
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Pediatric emergency care · Oct 2012
Comparative StudyScreening for adolescent anxiety disorders in a pediatric emergency department.
Adolescence is a time of increasing risk for some anxiety disorders. Scant data exist on adolescent anxiety in emergency department (ED) settings. We sought to characterize select clinical characteristics and health care use associated with anxiety disorders in a pediatric ED. ⋯ The current pilot data suggest that anxiety disorders are more prevalent among adolescent ED patients than among the general population but largely untreated. Several demographic and clinical variables may help to identify occult anxiety disorders. Greater awareness of anxiety disorders in this population may assist in redirecting a pattern of low use of mental health services but higher overall health care use.
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Pediatric emergency care · Oct 2012
Comparative StudyChildren with and without developmental disabilities: sedation medication requirements and adverse events related to sedation.
Our objective was to prospectively compare sedation medication requirements and adverse events related to sedation in children with and without developmental disabilities. ⋯ When compared with DN children, DD children do not require a higher dose of sedatives and do not have a higher incidence of adverse events.